My Gift Wrap Theme | Christmas 2018

December 6, 2018

Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments on my Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour post yesterday. I’ve enjoyed sharing my holiday decor and giving your peek inside my home, all decorated for Christmas.

One of the things I love most about creating my Christmas theme is coming up with gift wrap to match my decor. Every year I pick wrapping paper and ribbon to coordinate with my tree, and I find fun embellishments to accent my gifts. A beautifully wrapped gift is just part of the holiday gift giving process for me.

Several years ago I made a gift wrap crate and love using it during the holidays. The crate holds all my wrapping supplies and is on wheels so I can roll it wherever I’m wrapping gifts. I also love that everything is easily accessible for Mr. Confetti so his wrapped gifts don’t stray from my theme.

I use small tension rods to separate the paper rolls and boxes, and another one holds ribbon spools. Plastic cups are attached to each side of the crate and hold tags, embellishment, tape and scissors. Everything I need to wrap gifts all in one place.

Here’s a look at some of the wrapping paper and ribbon I’m using this year along with a few tips on coordinating your gift wrap elements.

TIPS FOR COORDINATING YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP

Create a color theme for your gift wrap using one or all of the colors in your Christmas tree decor. My tree theme this year was blue and white with pops of green and pink so those are the colors in my wrapping paper.
Use a variety of designs and patterns to keep things fun and interesting. Some years I will use a different paper for each member of the family which makes it easy to know who gets what gifts. It also eliminates the need for gift tags.
Don’t limit yourself to just traditional wrapping paper. Wall paper, scrapbook paper, patterned drawer liners and paper table runners make great gift wrap too!

To save money, instead of Christmas themed paper, buy all-occasion patterns that fits your color theme. Then use gift tags and embellishments to give the gifts a Christmas touch.
Use ribbons in different materials and widths to make each wrapped gift unique.

Now that you know my insider tips for wrapping beautiful Christmas gifts, here’s a list of my favorite sources for wrapping paper and ribbon.

Where I Buy My Ribbon:

The Ribbon Roll
May Arts
Paper Mart
Save On Crafts–a great source of unique ribbons like linen, lace, metal and vintage designs.

My Favorite Places To Buy Gift Wrap:

Make sure to come back tomorrow because I’ll be sharing lots more gift wrap inspiration as well as the fun gift embellishments I’m using this year.

Handmade Christmas Bow Using Ribbon

December 2, 2018

Given the choice between old-fashioned store-bought bows and a beautiful bow made by hand, a handcrafted bow wins every time. Today I’m sharing an easy project that takes a classic multi-point bow up a notch using ribbon from The Ribbon Roll.

CLASSIC CHRISTMAS BOW MADE WITH RIBBON

Supply List:

7/8” Christmas Stripes Wired Edge

1 3/8” Velvet Merrowed Wired Edge Ribbon

Hot Glue Gun and Glue

White Cardstock

Directions:

Step 1: Cut (4) 10″ strips, (4) 9″ strips and (1) 3 1/2” strip of your ribbon. Using two different lengths of ribbon will make the top layer of the bow a little smaller than the bottom layer.

Step 2: Take one of the longest ribbon pieces and loop the right side around to the center and glue the end in place. Loop the other end of the ribbon in the same manner and glue the end in place.

Step 3: Repeat the same steps will all the ribbon pieces except the shortest 3 1/2″ long piece.

Step 5: You are now going to layer and glue the looped pieces together. Take one of the longer looped pieces and place a dot of glue in the center where the ribbon ends meet. Place the second large loop piece on top of the glue with the points going in a different direction.

Step 7: Continue gluing each set of loops onto the center of the bow, working from the largest loops up to the smaller loops. Each time you layer a piece of ribbon, make sure the pointed end are pointing in a different direction.

Step 8: After all the lopped pieces are layered, add the center loop. Form a circle with the 3 1/2″ L piece of ribbon, overlapping the ends and glue them together. Glue the circle piece in the center of your bow.

Step 9: Cut a 1.75″ circle out of the cardstock and glue it to the back of the bow. This creates a solid base to attach the bow to a gift.

note: Since the velvet ribbon is wider than the stripe, I was able to make it using only the 4 longer strips of ribbon plus the center loop.

HANDMADE RIBBON BOWS

tip: You can use a variety of ribbon styles to make these classic bows including both wired edge and non-wired edge. If you want to make a much larger bow, use ribbon 1 1/2” or wider and cut your strips longer.

Here are my favorite Ribbon Roll Christmas ribbons for this project:

2 1/2” Christmas Ornaments Ribbon
7/8” Cheerful Plaid Wired Edge Ribbon
1 1/2” Linen Candy Stripe Wired Edge Ribbon
7/8” Herringbone Candy Cane Ribbon
My favorite Everyday ribbon for this project:
2 1/2” Mauve Velvet Merrowed Wired Edge Ribbon
1 1/2” Grosgrain Charm Ribbon
1 1/2” Cabana Stripes Wired Edge Ribbon
Dupioni Silk Ribbon

I hope you enjoyed this ribbon craft. Be sure to hop over to The Ribbon Roll to check out all of the amazing ribbons they sell. You’ll also find other ribbon craft projects on their blog.

Unique Christmas Decor Finds To Make Your Decor Extra Special

November 5, 2018

Happy November friends! Can you believe that there are only two months left in the year and only 50 days until Christmas? Boy has this year flown by. When it comes to Christmas decorating, I know there are two camps–put it up early or wait until after Thanksgiving. No matter where you are with decorating, I wanted to share a few awesome holiday decor items that I’ve come across recently. From tree decor and gift giving, to entertaining and mantel decor, I’m sure you’ll find and item or you that you’ll love. And while you’re shopping my picks, have your gift list handy because many of these items make great gifts too!

Favorite Christmas Decor Finds

Monogram Ornaments–I think these monogram ornaments are so darn cute! I bought a handful to use as gift tags on presents but think they would also be fun napkin rings. If you like these, you’ll want to get them soon because I think they are going to sell out fast.

Flat Stocking Holder–Finally a stocking holder that won’t compete with your holiday mantel decor. And if you don’t have a mantel you can use them to hang stockings from a console table or bookshelf.

Buffalo Check Tree Skirt–This black and white check tree skirt is an easy way to add a fun twist to your Christmas decor no matter what your holiday color theme.

Aerin Heart Ornaments–I would buy this set of heart ornaments and break them up into individual gifts for special friends or clients. The set would also look great in a pretty bowl as everyday decor.

Piles Of Patches Christmas Stocking–This stocking took my breath way. It’s so pretty and unique! I love the 3-d elements, fabric mix and the vintage feel that it has.

Ornaments Salad Plates–Every few years I buy a new set of holiday salad plates as an easy way to pair with my classic china. I love the fun vide and colorful pattern on these ornament plates.

Letter To Santa Christmas Mailbox Ornament–Whenever I teach a gift wrap workshop, people ask me for creative wrapping ideas for money gifts. This mailbox ornament from the Hearth & Hand collection at Target would be great to hold folded up bills or a check. Just add a gift tag and hang it on the tree and no one will suspect there’s a treasure inside.

Holiday Wreath Christmas Pillow–It’s really had to find a holiday pillow that not all red and green but still feels like Christmas. I love the embroidered wreath on this velvet pillow.

Joy Napkin Wrap–A few months ago I shared a JOY napkin ring from Frontgate on the blog and so many of you loved it. Unfortunately it’s no longer available but I found this option that’s just as fun. It’s available in a gold and silver finish.

Mercury Glass Trees–Just add a string of lights or flameless candles inside these mercury glass trees for an instant centerpiece on a side board or mantel.

Felt Ball Garland–This felt garland would be so cute on a kids tree or draped along a staircase. I’d also use the garland nestled into a plain glass vase or candle hurricane.

Velvet Ribbon–This velvet ribbon would make great bows to hang on a tree, garland or to use for gift wrapping.

And speaking of ribbon and gift wrap, do you want to take your gift wrap game to the next level this holiday? If so, I’d love for you to join me for my Creative Gift Wrap Workshop on Dec. 1st, hosted by Steve McKenzie’s and Verde Home. Full workshop detail below. Space is limited so get your tickets today on Eventbirte.

Be sure to tune in all week as I’ll be sharing more holiday inspiration and decorating ideas with you.

DIY No Carve Halloween Ribbon Pumpkins

October 17, 2018

Hi friends. The last week and a half have been really busy and I haven’t been able to blog like I planned. The craziness has slowed down a bit so I’m finally getting a chance to pop in and share a fun Halloween craft project with you.

A few weeks ago I told you that I’m part of the design team for The Ribbon Roll, one of the leading ribbon companies in the US. Each quarter I’ll be creating projects for them using their amazing ribbons. Since Halloween is just around the corner, I decided to craft some easy ribbon pumpkins. This project took about 25 minutes to complete so if you love a quick DIY, this ones for you.

Even though I used black and orange ribbon, you could use any color combo to work with your fall or Halloween decor.

Supply List:

Assorted Halloween themed ribbons in widths ranging from 5/8″ to 1 1/2″ w. Click here for a list of the ribbons I used for this project.

Craft pumpkins in different sizes–I purchased mine at Michaels

Paper Mache Witches Hat

Black Acrylic Craft Paint ( and a paint brush of course)

Ad Tech Removeable Glue Tape {affiliate link}

Starting with my largest pumpkin, I cut 18 pieces of ribbon at different lengths with the longest piece about 1 1/2″ from the bottom of the pumpkin. I cut 16 pieces of ribbon for the smaller pumpkins and layered some of the ribbon pieces for added dimension. Then I attached the ribbon to each pumpkin, at the base of the stem.

To add a little something extra, I made small bows and attached them to the stems of the smaller pumpkins. And for the larger pumpkin, I painted the witches hat black and added ribbon around the brim.

These cute pumpkins are perfect to accessorize a console table or use as a centerpiece on your dining table.

This cute black and white table runner was on $5.99 from Ikea. Buy two and sew them together if you need a longer length.

So what do you think, aren’t these DIY Halloween Ribbon Pumpkins pretty Spootacular?

For more fun fall and Halloween ribbon crafts, check out the The Ribbon Roll blog. Christmas projects will be coming soon.

Floral Fiesta–A Spring Soiree Blog Hop

May 24, 2018

Well friends, it’s an exciting day around these parts. I’m participating in a virtual progressive dinner blog hop with a group of blogging friends. We came together to bring you a Floral Fiesta dinner party, with each blogger hosting one element of the dinner.

If you’re coming over from Atta Girl Says, welcome and thanks for stopping by. Amy is one of my favorite bloggers and her dessert recipe has me chomping at the bit–yum! For those of you just now jumping in, no worries; I will provide a link to the other party stops at the bottom of the post so you won’t miss any of the Floral Fiesta fun.

I’m the last stop on the blog hop so I get to share a fun party favor and hostess gift idea. I feel one of the most important elements when hosting is leaving your guests with a gift at the end of the evening. It such a personal way to thank everyone that attended. And of course if you’re attending a party, a hostess gift is definitely in order to say thank you.

Gift baskets make great hostess gifts so to fit with the Floral Fiesta party theme, I created a flower garden gift basket.

HOSTESS GIFT IDEA: Garden Themed Gift Basket

My goal was to make the basket colorful and festive and I think I succeeded.

Instead of a traditional wicker basket, I used a black and white striped container that as the basket. The container has six divided sections inside so I was able to tuck different gifts into each section. The next time you make a gift basket, think outside the box and come up with a unique option for the container. Wine buckets, vases and serving bowls are great options and will make the gift extra special.

So the items wouldn’t fall to the bottom of the basket, I put a handful of shredded paper in each section. Then I added flower seed packets which set the tone for the theme and added a pop.

Next I added a garden tool, garden gloves, hand lotion and gardenia scented candle. The last item I added was a few circular garden stakes that were a quick DIY project.

This garden themed gift basket is definitely a gift that will keep on giving long after the party is over. The party host can plant the seeds and enjoy the flowers for years to come.

PARTY FAVOR GIFT IDEA: Garden In A Jar

For our Floral Fiesta party favors, I pulled together this cute gift which I’m calling Garden in Jar. It’s similar to the hostess gift garden basket but on a smaller scale.

I started with a glass jar I picked up at Hobby Lobby. The jar has an attached rope handle making it easy for party guests to carry their treat away

To create the jar, I placed some shred in the bottom and used a few flower seed packets to line the inside of the jar. Then I filled the jar with garden themed gifts just like the gift basket but added smaller garden stakes. A silk bow in a vibrant color combination gives the jar a fun finishing touch.

And once the jar is empty, it can be used to hold a small bouquet of fresh flowers on the kitchen counter or a tabletop.

Be sure to pop over to each stop on the Floral Fiesta party train–from the cocktail to the dessert, were serving up everything you need to host your next spring soiree.

Cocktail Hour–M. Jones Style
Appetizers–Home On Poplar Creek
Party Tablescape–Positively Southern
Main Course–Viva La Vintage For Your Home
Dessert–Atta Girl Says
Hostess Gift & Party Favor Ideas–yours truly

Black and White Container // Garden Gloves (Dollar Store) // Garden Tool (similar) // Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Hand Cream // Flower Seed Packets // Gardenia Candle // Fun Garden Stakes (similar) // Glass Jar // Two-tone Silk Ribbon // Yellow Grosgrain Ribbon // Paper Shred

** posts contains affiliate links

Christmas Gift Wrap | Creative Ideas & Tips

December 24, 2017

Hi friends. The last few days have been a struggle. I’ve been working on this gift wrap post up for days but my photos weren’t loading so I haven’t been able to publish this post. I think I’ve got the bugs fixed now so here’s the long-awaited post, just in time for a weekend gift wrapping marathon.

**disclaimer: Reliant Ribbon sent me some amazing ribbons to use for my holiday gift wrap post, but all words, opinions and gift wrap inspiration is mine.

I’ve had a passion for wrapping gifts for years and love to go the extra mile when creating beautiful packages. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I have somewhat of an obsession with pretty wrapping paper and ribbon. And a fun embellishment is usually part of my gift wrap formula too.

Today I’m going to share a few Christmas gifts that I wrapped along with some tips to help you give your holiday wrap a little extra pizzazz!

May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive,
which is wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love. ~ L.O. Baird

When I started planning my Christmas theme earlier this year, I knew I wanted to keep my holiday gift wrap simple. This year it was going to be all about the ribbon, paper and fun accents.

FYI–I use my DIY Gift Wrap Crate to keep all of my holiday wrapping supplies organized and in one place. And after the holidays I’ll switch out the paper and ribbon for spring and summer gift giving. ***Need a last minute Christmas gift? The gift wrap crate is a simple project that would be great for someone who loves to wraps.

Ok, let’s get into the details of my wrap…

All of the wrapping paper that I used this year is from HomeGoods. They have an awesome selection of holiday wrapping paper and you can’t beat the price. When I’m shopping for gift wrap, especially at Christmas, I like to buy patterns and colors that can be used year-round. Polka Dots, stripes, plaids and subtle patterns are what I shop for. With non-seasonal wrapping paper, I use inexpensive embellishments to reflect the season or gift-giving occasion.

My ribbon this year is from one of my favorite ribbon sources, Reliant Ribbon. Reliant Ribbon is a family owned wholesale ribbon company that sells a wide range of craft and floral ribbon. They have over 15,000 different ribbon styles so there is literally something for every gift wrap and decorating need.

♦ CREATIVE HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP INSPIRATION ♦

One of my favorite gift wrapping tricks is to combine two or more ribbons to create a layered look. Here I layered a narrow red and white striped ribbon on top of a wide solid red ribbon. The embellishments are mini red and green mercury glass ornaments I bought at Steve McKenzie’s. These ornaments are great as a package topper but can also be used to decorate a small tree or wreath. p.s. all holiday product at Steve McKenzie’s is 50% off through 12/31 with code: MERRY50 so it’s a great time to stock up for next year!

free printable gift tags

Another fun way I like to jazz up my holiday gift wrap is by tying a double bow with pretty satin ribbon. To do this you will want to cut the ribbon extra long. Wrap the ribbon around your box, tie the first bow then know the ribbon on top of that bow to secure it. Now you can tie a second bow and add an embellishment.

I love using unexpected materials to wrap gifts. This year I had the idea of using faux fur as a ribbon substitute. I headed to JoAnn Fabric and found this gorgeous white faux fur trim which was sold by the yard. I cut a piece long enough to wrap around my box and secured it with a satin ribbon bow. tip: a brown or black faux fur is a great ribbon alternative for a men’s gift.

Did you know that a lot of woven ribbons can be curled using the blade of your scissors. #oldschooltrick Curls are a great way to make your gift wrap more festive. And don’t be afraid to combine and curl multiple ribbons together which can create a really fun topper.

faux boxwood garland from Target Dollar Spot // Merry Christmas gift tags

When it comes to holiday gift tags, I use traditional Christmas tags as well as items I find in the craft aisle at Michaels. The JOY tag below is part of a 60 piece Holiday Chipboard Quote Set used for scrapbooking. The tiny tags are perfect for adding a little whimsy to your gift wrap.

holly leaf embellishment from Hobby Lobby

Using ornaments as an embellishment is not a new idea but how you use them can be. Instead of tying this wreath ornament to the ribbon, I tied a knot in the ribbon and bunched the ends in the center of the wreath. I love the way this looks on a round gift box.

free printable gift tags

One of the tips I share when I teach my gift wrap workshops is to to never throw away scrap pieces of wrapping paper or ribbon. Scrap ribbon can be used to wrap a small box or combined with another ribbon for layering. On the box below, I used a piece of scrap ribbon along with a left over Christmas card to decorate the box.

Creative gift wrapping is equal parts the items you wrap with and how you use those items. All it takes to create beautifully wrapped gifts is thinking outside the box (pun intended).

I hope you found these wrapping tips and my Christmas gift wrap inspirational. Be sure to stop by my Instagram feed tomorrow because I’ll be sharing a few last-minute wrapping ideas.

Gift Wrap Inspiration: Blue, Yellow & Silver Wedding Wrap

May 30, 2017

Hi friends. I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. I sure did!

I’m back today with another gift wrap inspiration post for you. Over the years I’ve shared wrapping ideas for birthdays, mother’s day, Valentine’s day and other special occasions but never for a wedding. Today I’m sharing inspiration for a wedding along with a few wedding specific gift wrapping tips. Enjoy!

The past couple of years we have not attended many weddings but this year is different. We have several weddings between now and August and that means some fun gift wrapping for me.

When I wrap wedding gifts I like to use paper, ribbon and embellishments that coordinate with the colors for the wedding. It’s such an easy way to make the gift even more special.

The hubs and I will be attending a family wedding this weekend where the colors are blue, yellow and silver. The color combination is perfect for a summer wedding and it provided great inspiration for wrapping our gift.

Wedding Gift Wrap Inspiration: Blue, Yellow & Silver

Since our gift is in a large box, I used a wrapping paper with a bold pattern. The blue and white lattice design is perfect for a wedding and the pattern is feminine without being too girly.

tip: buy wrapping paper that can work for more than one occasion and then use embellishments to make the wrapping formal or casual, depending on the event

blue & white medallion gift wrap // white grosgrain ribbon // navy silk ribbon

Once the box was wrapped, I tried a wide white grosgrain ribbon around it and then layered a navy silk ribbon on top. I cut the navy ribbon long enough so I could tie multiple bows on top.

To add in the yellow color, I created a flower bouquet for the top of the box using silk flowers I picked up at the Dollar Store.

The final touch was a silver glitter gift tag that I dressed up with yellow and navy fabric flowers from the craft store.

blue & white medallion gift wrap // white grosgrain ribbon // navy silk ribbon

Using different styles of flowers added interest and gave the top of the box a personalized feel.

blue & white medallion gift wrap // white grosgrain ribbon // navy silk ribbon

It’s wedding season so if you’ll be wrapping wedding gifts, keep these tips in mind…

GIFT WRAPPING TIPS FOR WEDDING GIFTS

If you don’t want to coordinate your gift wrap with the wedding colors, it’s always classic to use white or silver wrapping paper.
Always attach a gift tap or card securely to your gift. Or better yet, place the card inside the box and attach a tag with the couples name on it to the outside of the box.
If you’re planning on giving an envelope containing money or gift cards, put those items in an envelope and wrap a ribbon around it. A ribbon will signify that the envelope it is a gift so it doesn’t get missed or tossed out.
Embellishments are a fun way to accent your gift wrap and make your gift extra special. My favorite gift embellishments include silk flowers, oversized monogram letters and crystal beads.

Gift Wrap Inspiration: Tassel Ribbon Tie

May 1, 2017

With Mother’s Day just a few weeks away, you may have gift giving on your mind. If you’re looking for the perfect gift, be sure to check out my Mother’s Day Gift Guide. Once you’ve purchased a gift you’ll need to wrap it so I’ve got a fun and easy gift wrap idea for you today.

DIY GIFT WRAP: Tassel Ribbon Tie

Wrapping gifts is one of my favorite things to do and because I’m a paper and ribbon collector {aka-hoarder} I’ve got a stash of pretty paper and embellishments perfect for the occasion.

I’m always drawn to floral motifs when it comes to Mother’s Day gift wrap so I chose this pretty orange and pink floral blossom paper. I love the bold design and the accent of apple green in the background pattern.

Similar Floral Gift Wrap // Similar Faux Leather Tassels // Orange Ribbon

Wanting to put a different spin on the bow, I decided to create a tassel tie using white faux leather tassels that I had.

You won’t believe where these tassel came from. They originally started out as tassel garland from the Nate Berkus collection at Target. I scored several sets of the garland in white and black on clearance for less than $3!

When I purchased the garland I had the idea of making necklaces but also knew the tassels would make a great gift wrap embellishment.

Making the tassel tie was super easy. I measured a length of ribbon long enough to fit around the box and tie and simple bow. Then I tied a tassel on to each end. Once the box was wrapped, I used the tassel tie like a regular ribbon to embellish the gifts.

Similar Floral Gift Wrap // Similar Faux Leather Tassels // Orange Ribbon

One of the best parts of creative gift wrapping is using items in new ways. These tassels were meant for home decor but make the perfect finishing touch for a gift.

The next time you shop the clearance aisle at your favorite store, be on the look-out for trinkets and charms you can use when wrapping gifts.